Configurable electromagnetic reflector

Abstract

Configurable passive electromagnetic reflectors are disclosed, as are aircraft comprising configurable passive electromagnetic reflectors and methods to use configurable passive electromagnetic reflectors. In one embodiment a system comprises a reflector comprising a surface having a plurality of addressable patches switchable between a reflective state and a non-reflective state, and a controller coupled to the reflector to provide signals to switch the plurality of addressable patches between the non-reflective state and the reflective state to configure the reflector to selectively reflect incident electromagnetic radiation toward a remote target. Other embodiments may be described.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system, comprising:
 a reflector comprising a surface having a plurality of addressable patches switchable between a reflective state and a non-reflective state; and 
 a controller coupled to the reflector, the controller configured to:
 determine a frequency and a direction of incident electromagnetic radiation; 
 determine a reflector configuration to reflect the incident electromagnetic radiation to a remote target; and 
 provide signals to switch at least a portion of the plurality of addressable patches between the non-reflective state and the reflective state to configure the reflector to reflect the incident electromagnetic radiation to the remote target based on the reflector configuration. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of addressable patches comprise optically addressable carbon nanotube patches, and wherein the controller is coupled to the plurality of addressable patches through optical media. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the carbon nanotube patches are switchable between a metallic state and a non-metallic state. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 2 , wherein the optical media comprises one or more optical waveguides, and wherein the controller is optically coupled to the optical waveguides via one or more optical fibers. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the remote target corresponds to a position of an aircraft. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the reflector is coupled to an exterior surface of a vehicle. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the vehicle comprises an aircraft, a water borne vehicle, a land based vehicle, or a land based vehicle. 
     
     
       8. A vehicle, comprising:
 a body having an outer surface; 
 a reflector mounted on the outer surface and comprising a surface having a plurality of addressable patches switchable between a reflective state and a non-reflective state; and 
 a controller coupled to the reflector, the controller configured to:
 determine a frequency and a direction of incident electromagnetic radiation; 
 determine a reflector configuration to reflect the incident electromagnetic radiation to a remote target; and 
 provide signals to switch at least a portion of the plurality of addressable patches between the non-reflective state and the reflective state to configure the reflector to reflect the incident electromagnetic radiation to the remote target based on the reflector configuration. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of addressable patches comprise optically addressable carbon nanotube patches, and wherein the controller is coupled to the plurality of addressable patches through optical media. 
     
     
       10. The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the carbon nanotube patches are switchable between a metallic state and a non-metallic state. 
     
     
       11. The vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the optical media comprises one or more optical waveguides, and wherein the controller is optically coupled to the optical waveguides via one or more optical fibers. 
     
     
       12. The vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the remote target corresponds to a position of an aircraft. 
     
     
       13. The vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the reflector substantially conforms to the outer surface of the vehicle. 
     
     
       14. The vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein the vehicle comprises an aircraft, a water borne vehicle, or a land based vehicle. 
     
     
       15. A method, comprising:
 receiving, at a reflector comprising a surface having a plurality of addressable patches switchable between a reflective state and a non-reflective state, a radio frequency signal from a remote source; 
 determine a frequency and a direction of the radio frequency signal; 
 determine a reflector configuration to reflect the radio frequency signal to a remote target; and 
 switching at least a portion of the plurality of addressable patches between the non-reflective state and the reflective state to configure the reflector to reflect the incident electromagnetic radiation to the remote target based on the reflector configuration. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of addressable patches comprise optically addressable carbon nanotube patches. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the carbon nanotube patches are switchable between a metallic state and a non-metallic state. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the radio frequency signal is a radar signal from a radar system, and wherein the remote target corresponds to a land-based installation outside a range of the radar system. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the reflector is coupled to an exterior surface of a vehicle. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the vehicle comprises an aircraft, a water borne vehicle, or a land based vehicle.